TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Sept. 15-17

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that THE musical event of the week is AmericanaFest, which runs through the end of the weekend, consuming many of the city’s best venues with eclectic showcases, SXSW or CMJ style, ranging far beyond just traditional Americana to offer a lineup that only seems to get more exciting each year. Since most AmericanaFest events require a festival-wide wristband, we’re not going to fill our weekend run down with shows you can’t otherwise get into, which means things are a little light this week. If you do want to get in on the AmericanaFest fun, you can still grab a pass, check out our curated guide, or peep the full, gigantic schedule. But if you’re not partaking this year, and not sneaking off to Chicago for Riot Fest like some of our crew, we still have a few solid weekend musical options for you- check ’em out below!

FRIDAY

Though known for her contributions to popular indie acts like Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and Beverly, New York (and LA) indie rock staple Frankie Rose has cultivated an impressive solo career over the years as well, now her primary focus, and her latest, brand new fourth LP, Cage Tropical, takes an especially inspired post-punk and shoegaze bent, landing as perhaps her most exciting work yet. It’s been several years since Rose last made it to Music City, and if you’re looking for a raw, punk-infused, indie rock alternative to the AmericanaFest happenings, Frankie’s headliner at The End, along with Suburban Living and Backwood Saints, feels like one of the weekend’s best bets. [PO]

If you’re hoping to get some live music in your life this weekend, but spending big bucks on a AmericanaFest bracelet just isn’t in the cards for you, head on over to The Groove on Friday evening for their second annual Backyard Bash. Designed to be a wristband free Americanafest-adjacent event, hosted by Bloodshot Records, this all ages show will be welcoming founding member of the Mekons, Three Johns and Waco Brothers – rocker Jon Langford! He’s joined by local, blog fave, Cory Branan, NC based twang punks Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, plus resident Australian-bred alt-country singer Ruby Boots for what is guaranteed to be an incredible night of great music coming at you for the low, low price of free-ninety-nine. If money is tight, you can still have a great time, and not spend a ton of it … as long as you stay away from the records! [JR]

SATURDAY

Made up of former members of Undertow, These Arms Are Snakes, and Minus the Bear, Seattle’s Dust Mouth are another stellar bet for those looking for the opposite of AmericanaFest. Dubbed “gothic psychedelic shoegaze lounge metal” by Decibel, the vets of the weird and heavy side of the Pacific Northwest scene create dark, dreamy, bizarre sonic palates, showcasing a kind of atmospheric, sludgy type of heavy that takes a lot more technical prowess than just loud and aggressive. They hit The End Saturday night, with LA’s Mustard Gas and Roses, who were both named for and artistically inspired by Kurt Vonnegut classic Slaughterhouse Five, forging an ambient, artsy, metallic sound of their own. Local sludgy, dark, stoner/doom metal outfit Season of Arrows have been expertly paired to open, making this a thinking man’s metal bill from top to bottom. [PO]

If you aren’t sure that you are a “fan” of Americana, and want to see what all the hubbub is about without making the full commitment, then your friends at Grimey’s have your back. They are hosting an absolutely stacked free event on 8th Ave South, featuring beloved local Grammy winning juggernauts Old Crow Medicine Show, 2017 AMA Emerging Artist of the Year nominee (and local badass) Aaron Lee Tasjan, one of our must see acts of AmericanaFest The Texas Gentlemen, folky, bluesy, psych inspired duo Kacy & Clayton, the sweet harmonies of The Wild Reeds, & the throwback sounds of Brent Rademaker’s GospelbeacH. This is a best-of-the-best sampling, and it’s likely you’ll find a new favorite artist. [MH]

As Musician’s Corner comes to a close for the season (wow, that seriously flew by), it does so with an extra packed, special AmericanaFest tie-in bill. Don’t worry though, it’s still totally free, and a great choice for those looking to sample some great music this weekend without throwing down for a festival badge. The whole slate is solid, especially for fans of the AmericanaFest crowd, but headliner Colin Hay in particular has our interest piqued, and makes this a top weekend pick. The lead singer of successful Australian new wave rock group Men at Work, who achieved a considerable amount of fame in the ’80s thanks to their smash single “Down Under,” Scottish-born Hayhas gravitated towards a more mellow, folky, acoustic-driven sound for his prolific solo output, having released more a dozen albums under his own name over the last 25 years. He frequently plays Nashville, but rarely for free- catch him with Joe Pug, David Mayfield Parade, and tons more great talent! [PO]

Dubbed “L.A.’s Most Glamorous Freak” by L.A. Weekly, gothy, electro, post-punk rocker Drab Majesty is the live alias/musical outlet of Deb DeMure, the androgynous alter-ego of L.A.-based musician Andrew Clinco- and yes, he’s every bit as fabulously freaky as that sounds. Adopting a shoegaze-y, retro sound that alternates between brooding and dance-worthy, the project has generated quite a bit of buzz of the last several years and well-received releases, and couldn’t be further from the comparatively conventional AmericanaFest happenings elsewhere in town. Joined by likeminded Atlanta duo Pyramid Club and locals Silk & Suede, Exit/In is the spot to be if you’re looking for glam, artsy, alternative vibes. [PO]

SUNDAY

Emotionally-charged local alt rock outfit Daisyhead only released their sophomore LP, In Case You Missed It, back in April, but the band are already readying some new tunes with a two-song EP called Purple & Blue set to drop Friday. To celebrate, they’re performing Sunday night at DIY space That 70’s House to kick off a tour with likeminded Austin group Nominee, and will have ten very limited edition flexi discs available. Rounding out the lineup are ambient post-rock faves Mountains Like Wax, indie/alt/punk outfit Pale Lungs, and emo meets college rock up and comers Early Humans, making this perhaps the best under the radar event of the weekend, and sure bet for fans of punk and underground rock. [PO]

Seemingly erupting out of nowhere to find widespread fame with her 2o14 debut, Queen of the Clouds, and its breakout hits like “Talking Body” and “Habits,” Swedish electropop singer Tove Lo actually spent several years before performing in a rock band, and working with other pop acts and producers before her break as a solo artist. In the few short years since, she’s kept the momentum going, becoming a festival staple, appearing in high-profile guest spots, and earning praise for her dark, personal, and smart style and unabashed approach to sexuality. After last year’s sophomore effort Lady Wood and a great return to Bonnaroo this summer, Tove Lo headlines Nashville this weekend ahead of her third album, Blue Lips, along with opener Daye Jack. Best we can tell, it’s her first time in Music City proper, and who knows when she might be back, so if you’re a pop fan, this one comes highly recommended. [PO]

Since the early ’00s, Minneapolis rapper P.O.S. has been a leading figure in the underground hip hop scene, known for being a founding member of indie collective Doomtree, and for associations with the punk and rock scene (before making a name in hip hop, he spent time in punk bands in the late ’90s, and has continued to tour with rock acts and perform at rock-skewing events intermittently ever since). With a smart, literary and poetically engaging style, P.O.S. feels more like a callback to the golden age of hip hop, though from a sonic standpoint, he and his midwest peers and associates have carved out a distinctive, alternative, and contemporary sound. Out in support of his latest LP, Chill, Dummy, the esteemed artist headlines Exit/In this Sunday with B L A C K I E, also known for his alt/experimental hip hop style, which even more directly incorporates elements of hardcore punk and noise rock. Looking for a killer Sunday show that’s nothing like AmericanaFest? This’ll do the trick. [PO]

Music festival fans typically understand the “hair of the dog” mentality, and Fond Object has just the answer for you as the madness winds down on Sunday. Whether you have been running hot all weekend, or are looking for a free afternoon hang to wind down your weekend, their second annual AMA Sundown Social packs an absolutely stacked lineup. You’ll see top picks The Texas Gentlemen and The Wild Reeds, and a slew of locals ranging across a wide array of genres. If you’ve kept up with this site for long, then names like Hugh Masterson, T. Hardy Morris, Teddy & The Rough Riders will all sound very familiar. If not, just head down for food, drink, local vendors and DJ sets from some well-versed local artists to bring your weekend to an end. [MH]

Hopefully, you saved some energy because our friends at Cosmic Thug Records are hosting their second Sunday Night Showdown to officially wind down AmericanaFest weekend. They’ve stepped up their game this year with another stacked lineup featuring showcased performers that we highlighted like Robyn Hitchcock and Lilly Hiatt, along with CTR roster alum like T. Hardy Morris, Justin & The Cosmics, Pony Boy, and more. The full details on this one are on the event Facebook page, and it’s definitely worth being tired for on Monday morning. [MH]

THE SLANTS w/ SCALE MODEL, NIGHT SABERS, THE MADE AND THE BORN@ The High Watt | 8pm (7pm doors) | $8-10 | 18+

If you’re hoping to get as far away as possible from the Americana-centric vibes Sunday, don’t fear, there are always going to be genre options in Music City. Power pop, dance rock outfit The Slants return to Nashville to perform at the The High Watt, with help from blog faves Scale Model, East Nashville based duo Night Sabers, plus, locals via Miami, The Made and The Born. You can catch all this for just ten bones, and we can almost guarantee that there won’t be a whiff of Americana in the whole place. Not that there’s anything wrong with this weekend’s featured genre, but sometimes you just need something different. On such a crazy few days of action around town, this is a sleeper show that actually packs a massive wallop! [JR]